Pneumatic counter-recoil mechanism for guns

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic counter-recoil mechanism for guns, which comprises two counter-recoil cylinders operatively connected in parallel arrangement, and means are provided for operatively securing the cylinders to the gun. One of the cylinders partly effects the counter-recoil and the other of the cylinders includes means for feeding separately and storing a part of the energy required for the counter-recoil stroke of the barrel.

I United States Patent [151 3,636,813 Wremers [451 Jan. 25, 1972 [54] PNEUMATIC COUNTER.REC()IL 635,557 10/1899 Krone ..89/43 ECH S FOR GUNS 2,785,606 3/1957 Beck et al ..89/43 3,082,667 3/1963 Ramseyer ..89/43 X [72] lnventor: Karl-Josef Wiemers, Grevenbroich, Germany FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 73 Assignee; Rheinmemu Gmb", Dussddorfl Germany 793,025 1/1936 France ..89/43 [22] Filed: June 1969 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt [2]] Appl No; 830,451 Assistant Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley Attorney-Ernest G. Montague [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT July 6, Germany A pneumatic countepregoil mechanism for guns com. prises two counter-recoil cylinders operatively connected in [52] US. Cl. ..89/43 R rallel arrangement, and means are provided for operatively Cl 19/12 securing the cylinders to the gun. One of the cylinders partly [58] Field of Search ..89/43, 177, 178 ff th o nter-re oil and the other of the cylinders includes means for feeding separately and storing a part of the I References Cited energy required for the counter-recoil stroke of the barrel.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 3,500,718 3/1970 Stoner ..89/177 PATENTETDqguzsmz 363.5813

/NVE NTOR PNEUMATIC COUNTER-RECOIL MECHANISM FOR GUNS The present invention relates to pneumatic counterrecoil mechanism for guns.

Such pneumatic counterrecoil mechanism comprises mostly a pneumatic cylinder, which is immovably disposed in relation to the gun barrel and the piston rod of which is coupled with the gun barrel. During the counterrecoil of the gun barrel, the energy required for the following recoil, is storedin a pressure chamber of the counterrecoil cylinder. This stored energy must be in position to return the barrel into its forwardmost position and under circumstances to operate auxiliary loading devices and the breech block. The shell energy, from which, in the last resort, all required energy is taken, must be thus so great, that the barrel performs a predetermined minimum recoil travel and by overcoming the most different resistances, as for instance, the force from the weight component of the barrel raised during firing, the barrel must be counterrecoiled into its original position.

During firing with small charges, the recoil energy can become transmitted to the gun barrel exhausted before reaching. the required minimum recoil travel by the brake cylinder, and also the storage of the counterrecoil energy can be consumated, so that functional disturbances can be encountered.

lt is one object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic counterrecoil mechanism for guns which, with great charges as well as with small charges and a required minimum recoil travel, still contains sufficient energy, in order to return the barrel again into its forwardmost original position.

It is another object of the present invention to providea pneumatic counterrecoil mechanism for guns, wherein two counterrecoil cylinders are mechanically and operatively connected in a parallel arrangement, whereby the first cylinder becomes only partly effective and the second cylinder is designed such, that the energy required for the counterrecoil is fed separately and can be stored. The additional energy portion required for the counterrecoil can be fed by different means and in particular, for instance, by means of a manually operated pump and pressurized oil or by means of nitrogen from a nitrogen pressure bottle or in vehicles by means of a hydraulic arrangement available in the vehicle.

Advantageously, the piston rod of the second cylinder is not rigidlyconnected with a driver of the gun barrel, rather it is displaceably guided in the latter and equipped at its rear end with a driver abutment. By this arrangement, it is possible to eliminate the second cylinder, prior to the firing with a small load, by displacing the piston and compressing the gas filling. The recoiling gun barrel requires in this manner a storing only of half the energy for the counterrecoil.

The displacement of the piston in the second cylinder can take place, in an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, by applying a pressure medium at its forward side, whereby the piston in its new position is settable by a control valve provided in the feed or conduit for the pressure medium, against the gas pressure present in a pressure chamber of the second cylinder. In order to now put the second cylinder into operation, it is a further development of the present invention, that the set piston is automatically released upon completion of the minimum recoil travel, so that the pressure energy of the compressed gases for advancing the barrel is freed.This is advantageously brought about by a switching cam, which is secured adjustably on the gun barrel such, that duringthe recoil travel of the barrel the control valve is opened.

In a further development of the present invention, the piston in the first cylinder is subjected at'its end face likewise to a pressure medium,=whereby the gun barrel can-bemoved into a rearward position. This has the advantage that a particu-- lar counterrecoil cylinder, provided especially for this purpose, can be eliminated.

With these and other objects inview,which'willbecome ap parent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention, which is shown-by example only, willbe clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which the only FIGURE discloses schematically a device designed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the counterrecoil mechanism comprises substantially two counterrecoil cylinders l and 2. Both cylinders l and 2 are secured to a cradle 3. In the cylinder 1, which receives a piston 8 with its piston rod 9, the piston 8 is reciprocably arranged and in the cylinder Z-the piston 11 reciprocates with its piston rod 12. While the pistonrod 9 of the cylinder 1 is rigidly connected by means of nuts 7 and 25 on a driver 4 connected with the breech 5. of the gun barrel 6, the piston rod 12 of the second cylinder is displaceable in the driver 4 and has at its rear end a driver abutment (nut) 24.

During firing with normal loads, both cylinders arepartly effective for storing the counterrecoil energy, by joining both piston rods for joint travel with the recoiling' gun barrel. Thereby the gas fillings present in the pressure and storage chambers 10 and 17, respectively, are compressed.

Priorto firing with a small charge, the resistance of the second cylinder is eliminated. For this purpose, the piston 11 is charged at its front side by means of a manually operated pump .15 by means of a conduit 22 and a pressure chamber 18 with pressurized oil. The piston is displaced thereby for the minimum recoil travel X and the gas filling is stored in the storage chamber 17. This position of the piston 11 is retained by a back pressure valve 19. During the recoil travel of the barrel after the firing, a switching cam20; disposed displaceable and securable at the gun barrel, operates-a switch 21, with which a control valve 16 provided in the conduit 22 is switched over. By this arrangement, the pressurized oil flows from the pressure chamber l8'through the conduit 23 into the oil container 14. The switching cam 20 is likewise disposed spaced apartfrom the switch 21 for the distance x, so that the abutment24on the driver 4 comes into engagement again. The compressed gas fillings in the storage chambers 10 and 17 cause now jointly the counterrecoil of the gun barrel.

in rollableguns the gun barrel must, in many instances, be brought into a rearward moving position. For this purpose and for the manual operation of thecounterrecoil mechanism, the piston f the cylinder 1 is likewise capable of being charged with pressurized oil at its front :side. Upon switching over a control valve 27 followingthe manual pump 15, the piston 8 can be charged via the conduit 28 and displaced rearwardly, whereby the piston rod9moves the gun barrel into its rearward position. Adischarge valve 26 is provided, which upon opening permits the release of the pressurized oil from the conduits 28 into the oil container 14. The stored gas filling in both pressurized chambers 10 and 17 causes thereafter the counterrecoil of the gun barrel.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

lclaim:

1. A pneumatic counterrecoil mechanism for guns, said guns havinga gun barrel, and comprising a first andsecond counterrecoilcylinder operatively connected in parallel,

means forsecuring said cylinders in said gun,

said second cylinder operatively connected for partly effectingthe counterrecoil of said barrel,

said first cylinder including first means forfeeding-separately and storing apart of the energy'required for the counterrecoil of said barrel,

a first piston having'afirst piston'rod and reciprocating'in said first cylinder, saidfirst cylinder defines a first pressurechamber receiving a gas filling,

said piston'with said first piston rod-beingmanually -displaceable and securable, such that said gas filling-is compressed by displacement'of said first piston,

said first means comprises,

means forapplyinga pressure medium on'the front side of said first piston-in said .first cylinder,

a conduit for feeding said pressure medium, and

a control valve provided in said conduit and controlling the pressure of said pressure medium in relation to the pressure of said gas filling in said first pressure chamber in order to secure said first piston.

2. A pneumatic counterrecoil mechanism for guns, said guns having a gun barrel, and comprising a first and second counterrecoil cylinder operatively connected in parallel,

means for securing said cylinders in said gun,

said second cylinder operatively connected for partly effecting the counterrecoil of said barrel,

said first cylinder including first means for feeding separately and storing a part of the energy required for the counterrecoil of said barrel,

a first piston having a first piston rod and reciprocating in said first cylinder,

said first cylinder defines a first pressure chamber receiving a gas filling,

said piston with said first piston rod being manually displaceable and securable, such that said gas filling is compressed by displacement of said first piston,

said barrel includes a driver,

said first piston rod of said first cylinder is adjustably guided and has at its rear end means for abutting said driver,

a reciprocating second piston having a second piston rod disposed in said second cylinder, the latter defining a pressure chamber receiving a gas filling, and

means for automatically releasing said first piston upon complete minimum return stroke of said barrel, so that the pressure energy of said gas filling in said first and second pressure chambers is freed for a counterrecoil of said barrel.

3. A pneumatic counterrecoil mechanism for guns, said guns having a gun barrel, and comprising a first and second counterrecoil cylinder operatively connected in parallel,

means for securing said cylinders in said gun,

said second cylinder operatively connected for partly effecting the counterrecoil of said barrel,

said first cylinder including first means for feeding separately and storing a part of the energy required for the counterrecoil of said barrel,

a first and second piston displaceably mounted in said first and second cylinders, respectively,

said second piston having a second piston rod operatively rigidly secured to said barrel and displaceable therewith,

said first piston having a first piston rod being displaceably relative to said barrel,

said first and second cylinders defining a first and second pressure chamber, respectively, receiving a gas which is adapted to be compressed for storing the energy required for the counterrecoil of said barrel,

said first means for selectively displacing said first piston rod in said first cylinder, from a first relative position of said first piston rod and said barrel, rearwardly relative to said barrel for a minimum recoil distance, whereby when firing said gun with small charges said first piston is inoperative with respect to said barrel as the latter subsequently recoils upon firing, and including second means for securing said first piston thereat, thereby compressing said gas in said first pressure chamber, whereby said part of the energy required for said counterrecoil of said barrel is stored,

third means for releasing the securing of said first piston when said barrel is subsequently recoiled rearwardly by a distance equal to said minimum recoil distance, whereby said first piston rod and said barrel become again in said first relative position but in a rearward recoil position,

said first piston rod operatively connected with said barrel for joint counterrecoil movement of said barrel and said first piston rod when said third means releases the securing of said first piston, whereby both said first piston and said second piston transmit the energy for, and effect, the

counterrecoil of said barrel, and said barrel operatively is connected with said first piston rod for rearwardly moving the latter upon recoil of said barrel only when said barrel and said first piston rod are in said first relative position with respect to each other, said barrel being operatively connected with said first piston rod for counterrecoil movement of said barrel by said first piston rod when the latter and said barrel are in said first relative position in the rearward recoil position, whereby with normal gun charges both cylinders are partly effective for storing the recoil energy of said barrel and effecting said counterrecoil of said barrel by means of both piston rods jointly being connected with said barrel during recoil, as well as counterrecoil, of said barrel. 

1. A pneumatic counterrecoil mechanism for guns, said guns having a gun barrel, and comprising a first and second counterrecoil cylinder operatively connected in parallel, means for securing said cylinders in said gun, said second cylinder operatively connected for partly effecting the counterrecoil of said barrel, said first cylinder including first means for feeding separately and storing a part of the energy required for the counterrecoil of said barrel, a first piston having a first piston rod and reciprocating in said first cylinder, said first cylinder defines a first pressure chamber receiving a gas filling, said piston with said first piston rod being manually displaceable and securable, such that said gas filling is compressed by displacement of said first piston, said first means comprises, means for applying a pressure medium on the front side of said first piston in said first cylinder, a conduit for feeding said pressure medium, and a control valve provided in said conduit and controlling the pressure of said pressure medium in relation to the pressure of said gas filling in said first pressure chamber in order to secure said first piston.
 2. A pneumatic counterrecoil mechanism for guns, said guns having a gun barrel, and comprising a first and second counterrecoil cylinder operatively connected in parallel, means for securing said cylinders in said gun, said second cylinder operatively connected for partly effecting the counterrecoil of said barrel, said first cylinder including first means for feeding separately and storing a part of the energy required for the counterrecoil of said barrel, a first piston having a first piston rod and reciprocating in said first cylinder, said first cylinder defines a first pressure chamber receiving a gas filling, said piston with said first piston rod being manually displaceable and securable, such that said gas filling is compressed by displacement of said first piston, said barrel includes a driver, said first piston rod of said first cylinder is adjustably guided and has at its rear end means for abutting said driver, a reciprocating second piston having a second piston rod disposed in said second cylinder, the latter defining a second pressure chamber receiving a gas filling, and means for automatically releasing said first piston upon complete minimum return stroke of said barrel, so that the pressure energy of said gas filling in said first and second pressure chambers is freed for a counterrecoil of said barrel.
 3. A pneumatic counterrecoil mechanism for guns, said guns having a gun barrel, and comprising a first and second counterrecoil cylinder operatively connected in parallel, means for securing said cylinders in said gun, said second cylinder operatively connected for partly effecting the counterrecoil of said barrel, said first cylinder including first means for feeding separately and storing a part of the energy required for the counterrecoil of said barrel, a first and second piston displaceably mounted in said first and second cylinders, respectively, said second piston having a second piston rod operatively rigidly secured to said barrel and displaceable therewith, said first piston having a first piston rod being displaceably relative to said barrel, said first and second cylinders defining a first and second pressure chamber, respectively, receiving a gas which is adapted to be compressed for storing the energy required for the counterrecoil of said barrel, said first means for selectively displacing said first piston rod in said first cylinder, from a first relatiVe position of said first piston rod and said barrel, rearwardly relative to said barrel for a minimum recoil distance, whereby when firing said gun with small charges said first piston is inoperative with respect to said barrel as the latter subsequently recoils upon firing, and including second means for securing said first piston thereat, thereby compressing said gas in said first pressure chamber, whereby said part of the energy required for said counterrecoil of said barrel is stored, third means for releasing the securing of said first piston when said barrel is subsequently recoiled rearwardly by a distance equal to said minimum recoil distance, whereby said first piston rod and said barrel become again in said first relative position but in a rearward recoil position, said first piston rod operatively connected with said barrel for joint counterrecoil movement of said barrel and said first piston rod when said third means releases the securing of said first piston, whereby both said first piston and said second piston transmit the energy for, and effect, the counterrecoil of said barrel, and said barrel operatively is connected with said first piston rod for rearwardly moving the latter upon recoil of said barrel only when said barrel and said first piston rod are in said first relative position with respect to each other, said barrel being operatively connected with said first piston rod for counterrecoil movement of said barrel by said first piston rod when the latter and said barrel are in said first relative position in the rearward recoil position, whereby with normal gun charges both cylinders are partly effective for storing the recoil energy of said barrel and effecting said counterrecoil of said barrel by means of both piston rods jointly being connected with said barrel during recoil, as well as counterrecoil, of said barrel. 